Florida Boaters Shelter Elsewhere, Call Local Regulations “Prohibitive”

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – As Milton approaches the western coast of Florida as a major hurricane, many boaters are taking their yachts and smaller boats to safer harbors. One local marina executive says they may be seeking shelter, but they aren’t coming here.

Peter Maury – CEO, Bay Street Marina
“To be honest, our occupancy, in all the marinas, has gone way down due to some of the changes in policies. And then you know, we put out an ad, was it two days ago, three days ago, to advertise half-off rates for boats that want to get out of the Florida area, because you know we knew the storm is going to travel across Florida. So you know, we thought we’d try to entice some business over here, give them 50% off, but we had no takers.”

A surprising turn of events considering the number of Floridian boaters looking to get their boats to safe harbor. Bay Street Marina CEO Peter Maury says more and more often, foreign clientele are calling newer Bahamian regulations prohibitive.

Boaters’ Alternative Storm Shelters

Peter Maury – CEO, Bay Street Marina
“For the storm, I think most of them will stay, you know, local, and try to move further south. I know quite a few boats that I talked to went down to the Keys and filled up, you know, the marinas down there. Obviously as far south as they can get with the prediction running over, you know, pretty much north-central Florida.”

Bay Street Marina Preparations for Hurricane Milton

We asked Maury what preparations would look like at Bay Street Marina for any weather that might come in Milton’s wake.

Peter Maury – CEO, Bay Street Marina
“For us, it’s a normal storm, you know? It’s not going to… I mean, if we thought we were going to get cat 1 winds, then we would be shutting down the docks, putting wrap on all the pedestals. A category 3, we’d be asking everybody to leave. A lot of them would be going inside Atlantis and Hurricane Hole, and, um, trying to get out of the—because we’re right on the harbor. But right now, we’re not really doing any prep other than offering safe moorage for any boats that want to come in, at 50% off.”